Wenger bans handshakes Among Arsenal players after virus outbreak

Arsenal FC manager, Arsene Wenger has stopped the pre-training ritual where players shake hands and had the dressing room at the training ground washed with disinfectant to wipe out a virus which is spreading through the camp. ‘It is a good excuse not to shake hands before the game,’ ‘If you shake hands the viruses go around the league,’ Wenger offered as his reason. UK’s Daily Mail writes that Per Mertesacker is the fourth player to be struck down recently by a coughing and sickness bug and faces a test to be fit for Saturday evening’s game at West Ham. Theo Walcott became ill after returning from international duty in Moldova, when the England squad used Arsenal’s facilities. Thomas Vermaelen and Francis Coquelin have also missed games and some staff have fallen ill.